Buttocks enhancing garment

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a form-fitting garment configured to enhance the buttocks of the wearer. A garment of the invention includes a pair of buttock overlay portions sized and positioned to overlay the buttocks of the wearer and a pair of buttock support bands disposed beneath the buttock overlay portions sized and positioned to overlay a portion of a wearer&#39;s body beneath each buttock so as to apply compression to the portion of the wearer&#39;s body beneath each buttock. The buttock overlay portions and buttock support bands cooperate to provide support and/or add lift and/or curve to the buttocks of the wearer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationNo. 62/331,081, filed May 3, 2016, and U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 62/407,056, filed Oct. 12, 2016, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Human bodies come in a miriad of shapes and sizes. Society, however,generally regards certain physical features or body shapes as moreattractive or desirable than others. Those considered more attractivehave been reported to do better in the work place than those consideredless attractive. For example, it is believed that attractive people aremore likely to earn a higher salary than their less attractivecounterpart. In addition, more attractive people tend to be perceived asbeing more persuasive or having greater credibility than less attractivepeople. The desire to look good or be attractive has spawned multipleindustries that assist individuals in their quest to improve theirphysical features or body shapes. These include the cosmetic industry,diet and weightloss industry, and the gym and fitness industry, as wellas the fashion and apparel industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides facile means for immediately enhancing anindividual's physical appearance and body shape. The invention is basedon the discovery of a garment that can enhance the wearer's buttock andphysical appearance. A garment of the invention supports or lifts thebuttocks of the wearer, and optionally, adds shape to the buttocks.

In one aspect, the invention provides a form-fitting garment configuredto enhance the buttocks of the wearer, the garment having a pair ofbuttock overlay portions sized and positioned to overlay the buttocks ofthe wearer, the buttock overlay portions being constructed of materialhaving a level of compression, fabric weight, thickness, or acombination thereof that differs from that of material in adjoiningportions of the garment.

In some embodiments, the buttock overlay portions are stitched toadjoining portions of the garment. In some embodiments, the buttockoverlay portions are attached to adjoining portions of the garment usinga flat lock stitch.

In some embodiments, the level of compression, fabric weight, or bothlevel of compression and fabric weight of the buttock overlay portionsare lower than that of adjoining portions of the garment. In someembodiments, the buttock overlay portions are formed of a stretch meshfabric. In some embodiments, each of the buttock overlay portionsinclude a pocket within which padding material is disposed therebyadding thickness to the buttock overlay portion relative to that ofadjacent portions of the garment. In some embodiments, the paddingmaterial is a removable insert. In some embodiments, the paddingmaterial is batting, silicon gel, polyurethane foam rubber, or acombination thereof.

In some embodiments, the garment includes a pair of buttock supportbands disposed beneath the buttock overlay portions of the garment, thebuttock support bands being sized and positioned to overlay a portion ofa wearer's body beneath each buttock so as to apply compression to theportion of the wearer's body beneath each buttock, the buttock supportbands being formed of materials having a higher level of compressionand/or fabric weight than that of the buttock overlay portions, thebuttock support bands applying greater compression to the portion of thewearer's body beneath each buttock than that applied by the buttockoverlay portions to the wearer's buttocks.

In some embodiments, each of the buttock support bands includes atubular pocket within which a flexible wire is inserted to form anunderwire supporting each buttock.

In some embodiments, each of the buttock support bands is formed ofmaterial having a compression level of at least about 15 mmHg and/or afabric weight at least between about 150 to about 250 grams/meter².

In some embodiments, each of the buttock overlay portions is formedusing material having a compression level less than about 15 mmHg and/ora fabric weight less than about 150 grams/meter².

In some embodiments, the garment is constructed using a first materialforming the buttock overlay portions and a second material forming theadjoining portions of the garment to which the buttock overlay portionsare stitched, the first material having a lower level of compressionand/or a lower fabric weight than that of the second material, thesecond material forming the remaining portion of the garment.

In some embodiments, the first material has a light compression level ofless than about 15 mmHg and/or a fabric weight less than about 150grams/meter², and the second material has mild compression level of atleast about 15 mmHg and/or a fabric weight at least about 150 to about250 grams/meter².

In some embodiments, the garment is formed using a single layer offabric.

In some embodiments, the garment is constructed using spandex, superstretch spandex, elastane, lycra, equestrian lycra, wicking lycra,cotton lycra, supplex lycra, polyester, dry fit polyester, nylon,cotton, organic cotton, wool, rayon, viscose, bamboo, supplex, tactel,tencel, polyamide, power net, poly net, power mesh, poly mesh, legelastic, spandura, or a combination thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides an integrated garment having avisible portion under which a form-fitting, buttock enhancing liner isattached, the liner having a pair of buttock overlay portions and a pairof buttock support bands. In some embodiments, the visible portion andbuttock enhancing liner are attached at their waist openings, frontcentral seam, rear central seem, a side seam, a seam at the leg opening,or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the visible portion is a pair of trousers, a pairof denim jeans, a pair of shorts, a pair of full length leggings, a pairof capri length leggings, a pair of ankle length leggings, a pair oftights, a bikini bottom, a one piece swimsuit, a skirt, a tennis skirt,a golf skirt, a pair of maternity trousers, a pair of maternity denimjeans, a pair of maternity shorts, a pair of full length maternityleggings, a pair of capri length maternity leggings, a pair of anklelength maternity leggings, a pair of maternity tights, a maternitybikini bottom, a maternity one piece swimsuit, a maternity skirt, amaternity golf skirt, or a maternity tennis skirt.

Any feature or combination of features described herein are includedwithin the scope of the present invention provided that the featuresincluded in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as willbe apparent from the context, this specification and the knowledge ofone of ordinary skill in the art.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. In case of conflict, thepresent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and notintended to be limiting. Although methods and materials similar orequivalent to those described herein can be used to practice theinvention, suitable methods and materials are described below.

All patents and publications referenced or mentioned herein areindicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to whichthe invention pertains, and each such referenced patent or publicationis hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if it had beenincorporated by reference in its entirety individually or set forthherein in its entirety. Applicants reserve the right to physicallyincorporate into this specification any and all materials andinformation from any such cited patents or publications.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a garment of the invention illustrating thebuttock overlay portions constructed using a light mesh material beneathwhich buttock support bands are disposed.

FIGS. 2A-2B are two views of a garment of the invention including a viewof the front (2A) and a view of the back (2B) of a garment havingbuttock overlay portions constructed of low compression materialadjoining buttock-support bands constructed of high compressionmaterial.

FIGS. 3A-3B are front and rear views, respectively, of a garment of theinvention including a view of front 1F with tummy-support band 2F (3A)and a view of rear 1B with buttock pocket 4, buttock-support band 2B,and optional, underwire insert 3 (3B).

FIGS. 4A-4D provide various views of a garment of the inventionincluding: a view from the front of outside layer 40F (4A), a view fromthe back of outside layer 40B (4B); a view from the front of innertummy-support panel 44F (4C), which extends downward to crotch andsideways to the back to form pocket flaps 44B (4D) that overlays theopen top of pockets 42.

FIG. 5 provides a rear view of another embodiment of a garment of theinvention illustrating the buttock overlay portions, each with opening67 for insertion of buttock enhancing insert 63.

FIGS. 6A-6C are views of components for constructing an integratedgarment of the invention including a view of buttock-overlay portion600P (6A) and the adjoining front/back portion (600F, 600B) (6B) of thebuttock enhancing liner, which is integrated within a leggingconstructed using front portion 700F, back portion 700B, mid-portion700M, and lower leg portion 700L (6C).

FIGS. 7A-7C are views of components for constructing another embodimentof an integrated garment of the invention including a view ofbuttock-overlay pocket 800P (7A), as well as adjoining liner front 800Fand liner back 800B (7B) of the buttock enhancing liner, which isintegrated within a legging constructed using front portion 900F, backportion 900B, mid-portion 900M, and lower leg portion 900L (7C).

FIGS. 8A-8C provides front, rear and side views (8A, 8B and 8C,respectively) of high waist shorts 144 with lining 40 having gel insert43.

FIGS. 9A-9C provides front, rear and side views (9A, 9B and 9C,respectively) of high waist capris 155 with lining 40 having gel insert43.

FIGS. 10A-10C provides front, rear and side views (10A, 10B and 10C,respectively) of mid-rise waist boot cut 166 jean with lining 40 havinggel pad insert 43.

FIG. 11A-11C provides front, rear and side views (11A, 11B and 11C,respectively) of mid-rise waist skirt 177 with a form-fitting, buttockenhancing liner of the invention.

FIGS. 12A-12C provides front, rear and side views (12A, 12B and 12C,respectively) of mid-rise waist leggings 188 with a form-fitting,buttock enhancing liner of the invention.

FIG. 13A-13C provides front, rear and side views (13A, 13B and 13C,respectively) views of high waist ultra-wide flare jean 199 with aform-fitting, buttock enhancing liner of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides facile means for immediately enhancing anindividual's physical appearance and body shape. The invention is basedon the discovery of a garment that can enhance the wearer's buttocks byadding shape to the buttocks of the wearer. Thus, the invention providesa form-fitting garment configured to enhance the buttocks of the wearer.

A garment of the invention includes a pair of buttock overlay portionssized and positioned to overlay the buttocks of the wearer. The buttockoverlay portions are constructed of material having a level ofcompression, fabric weight, thickness, or a combination thereof thatdiffers from that of material in adjoining portions of the garment.

A garment of the invention also includes a pair of buttock support bandsdisposed beneath the buttock overlay portions and are sized andpositioned to overlay a portion of a wearer's body beneath each buttockso as to apply compression to the portion of the wearer's body beneatheach buttock. The buttock support bands are constructed of materialshaving a higher level of compression and/or fabric weight than that ofthe buttock overlay portions. As such, the buttock support bands applygreater compression to the portion of the wearer's body beneath eachbuttock than that applied by the buttock overlay portions to thewearer's buttocks thereby providing support and/or adding lift to thebuttocks.

As used herein, the term “enhance” or “enhancing” in reference toenhancing the buttocks means to provide support to the buttocks, to liftthe buttocks, and/or to add curvature or shape to the buttocks.

As used herein, the term “garment” means any clothing worn on the bodyincluding garments that cover the lower body or pelvic portion of thebody. The term garment includes outer garments and undergarments. Agarment can be: pants such as dress slacks, jeans, leggings, capris;shorts, skirts or skorts such as athletic and non-athletic shorts orskorts, pencil skirts, tennis skirts, golf skirts, swim skirts orshorts; and undergarments such as underwear, pantyhose, tights, and thelike that cover the pelvic area, the lower torso or upper and lowertorso. A garment of the invention can be of various styles and cut andincludes a garment in which the waist is v-cut, mid-rise or high waist.A garment of the invention can be form fitting or have a loose fit solong as the portion of the garment covering the pelvic/buttocks area ofthe wearer is form fitting so as to provide support and enhance thebuttocks as described herein. A garment of the invention can be ofvarious sizes, including, for example, petite, regular, tall andmaternity sizes in extra extra small (XXS), extra small (XS), small (S),medium (M), large (L), extra large (XL), extra extra large (XXL), extraextra extra large (XXXL), extra extra extra extra large (XXXXL), asfurther summarized in the tables below.

Size* XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL 4XL US 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 Waist(in.) 23 24 25 26 27 28 29.5 31 32.5 34.5 35.5 36.5 37.5 Hip (in.) 33.534.5 35.5 36.5 37.5 38.5 40 41.5 43 45 47 49 51 Legging Inseam* CapriShort Regular Tall 24 in. 26-28 in. 28-30 in. 31-34 in. *in. is inches

A buttock-enhancing garment of the invention can be an undergarment. Forexample, underwear can be constructed to include a buttock-supportingband portion and a buttock-overlaying portion in which thebuttock-supporting band portion applies a higher level of compression tothe body area beneath the wearer's buttocks than the level ofcompression applied by the buttock-overlaying portion to the wearer'sbuttocks.

A buttock-enhancing garment of the invention can be an integratedgarment in which a garment that is typically worn over an undergarmentis constructed to include a buttock-enhancing underportion or liner thathas a buttock support band and a buttock overlay portion. In otherwords, a buttock enhancing garment of the invention can be integratedinto a pair of leggings, a pair of form-fitting or loose fit pants orshorts, or integrated into a loose fit or form-fitting skirt, to form anintegrated garment in which the buttock enhancing component functions asa liner beneath the visible portion of the integrated garment wornbetween the skin and the visible portion of the integrated garment. Assuch, the buttock enhancing component or liner of the integrated garmentcan be attached to the visible garment portion using any known methodand/or at any convenient location. For example, the buttock-enhancingcomponent or liner can be stitched to the visible garment portion of theintegrated garment at their waist openings thereby forming a singlewaist or waistband. Where part of an integrated garment, the liner canbe attached to the visible portion of the integrated garment at anyconvenient location including through their central front and rearseems, at the side seems, at their waist openings, at their leg openingsor any combination thereof. In these embodiments, the visible portion ofthe integrated garment can have a loose-fit or can be form fitting,while the liner is forming fitting.

Non-limiting examples of an integrated garment of the invention withforming fitting buttock enhancing liner having a buttock overlay portionand a buttock support band include the following: a pair of trousers, apair of denim jeans, a pair of shorts, a pair of full length leggings, apair of capri length leggings, a pair of ankle length leggings, a pairof tights, a bikini bottom, a one piece swimsuit, a skirt, a tennisskirt, a golf skirt, a pair of maternity trousers, a pair of maternitydenim jeans, a pair of maternity shorts, a pair of full length maternityleggings, a pair of capri length maternity leggings, a pair of anklelength maternity leggings, a pair of maternity tights, a maternitybikini bottom, a maternity one piece swimsuit, a maternity skirt, amaternity golf skirt, or a maternity tennis skirt.

A buttock-enhancing garment of the invention also can be a standalonegarment typically worn over underwear that is integrally constructed toinclude buttock overlay portions and buttock support bands.

Buttock Overlay Portion

A buttock overlay portion in a garment of the invention is the portionof the garment that is sized and positioned to overlay at least aportion of a buttock of the body of the wearer. The buttock overlayportion can be constructed of a light or mild compression material thatapplies a lower level of compression than the level of compressionapplied by adjacent garment sections to which the buttock overlayportion adjoins.

Material compression levels are known to those skilled in the art andcan be light, mild, moderate or strong. See, for example, Liu et al.,Fabric Mechanical-Surface Properties of Compression Hosiery and theirEffects on Skin Pressure Magnitudes when Worn, FIBRES & TEXTILES INEASTERN EUROPE 2010, Vol. 18, No. 2 (79), pages 91-97. Some lightcompression materials can apply between about 10-14 mmHg of pressure andothers about 12-16 mmHg of pressure. Examples of fabric weights forlight compression materials include weights between about 85-130grams/m² or between about 45-80 grams/m². Some mild compressionmaterials can apply between about 18-21 mmHg of pressure, and othersbetween about 18-25 mmHg of pressure. Examples of fabric weights formild compression materials include weights between about 225-270grams/m² or between about 70-110 grams/m². Some moderate compressionmaterials can apply between about 25-32 mmHg of pressure, and othersbetween about 20-30 mmHg of pressure. Examples of fabric weights formoderate compression materials include weights between about 235-265grams/m² or between about 225-275 grams/m². Some strong compressionmaterials can apply between about 36-46 mmHg of pressure and othersbetween about 30-40 mmHg of pressure. Examples of fabric weights forstrong compression materials include weights between about 360-395grams/m² or between about 395-475 grams/m².

The buttock overlay portion of a garment of the invention generally hasa light to low-mild compression level, for example, below 20 mmHg ofpressure or even below 15 mmHg of pressure, with a fabric weight lessthan about 150 grams/m², for example, between about 30-150 grams/m². Incontrast, adjoining sections of a garment of the invention can have afabric weight greater than 150 grams/m², for example, 150 to 250grams/m². Thus, a garment of the invention can have a range of fabricweight, for example, between about 30 to about 250 grams/m².

Thus, the buttock overlay portion can be constructed of a looser knit ora lighter weight fabric than adjacent sections of the garment. Thebuttock overlay portion can be constructed of a different material thanthe material in adjacent sections of the garment. For example, thebuttock overlay portion and adjacent garment sections can be constructedof materials with different spandex contents so as to achieve thedifferent levels of compression. The buttock overlay portion can beattached to adjacent garment sections by stitching or through adhesivebonding. Examples of stitches useful in a garment of the inventioninclude, without limitation, a flatlock or flatseam stitch or a reversecoverstitch, as known in the art.

In some embodiments, the buttock overlay portion of a garment of theinvention can be constructed to include a pocket to hold paddingmaterial for adding shape and/or curvature to the buttocks of thewearer. Buttock enhancing padding materials include, for example,batting or silicon gel inserts. In some embodiments, the buttock overlaypocket can be constructed with an opening through which buttockenhancing padding material can be inserted or remove by the wearer.Thus, buttock enhancing padding material can be a removeable insert suchas a silicon gel insert or a non-removable insert such as cotton battingsewn in place within a pocket forming buttock overlay portion.

Buttock enhancing padding material or insert can be any washablematerial or, if the insert is removeable, a non-washable material. Thesize of the buttock enhancing insert can increase in sizeproportionately with the size of the garment. Inserts can have thicknessof, for example: about ¼ inches, about ⅓ inches, about ½ inches, about ⅔inches, about % inches, about 1 inches, about 1¼ inches, about 1⅓inches, about 1½ inches, about 1⅔ inches, about 1¾ inches, and about 2inches. As used herein, the term “about” in reference to a recitedquantity means within 10%, or between 90% and 110%, of the recitedquantity. Inserts can have a width or diameter of, for example: about 5½inches, about 5¾ inches, about 6 inches, about 6¼ inches, about 6½inches, about 6¾ inches, about 7 inches, about 7¼ inches, about 7½inches, about 7¾ inches and about 8 inches.

Where the pocket overlay portion is constructed with a pocket forholding padding material, the fabric weight of the material forming thepocket can be of any compression level, e.g. light or mild, or fabricweight, as needed to support the padding material or removable insertand hold it in position.

Buttock Support Band

The buttocks and/or buttock overlay portions can be supported using apair of buttock-support bands. A buttock support band in a garment ofthe invention is a portion of the garment sized and positioned tooverlay a portion of the body of the wearer beneath a buttock of thewearer to apply compression to the portion of the wearer's body beneatheach buttock to further support or enhance the buttocks. The buttocksupport bands are configured to apply compression to the body areabeneath the buttocks so as to support or lift the buttocks above.

The buttock-supporting band can be more tightly knitted or differentlyknitted than the other sections of the garment so as to exhibit greatercompression, or it can be constructed of a different or heavier materialthan that used in adjoining sections of the garment such as the buttockoverlay portion.

Where the buttock support bands are constructed using material having agreater level of compression than that of adjacent sections of thegarment, the buttock support bands materials generally have a mild tolow-moderate compression level, for example, at least about 15 mmHg ofpressure or between about 15-20 mmHg of pressure or higher, with afabric weight that is at least about 150 grams/m², for example, betweenabout 150-250 grams/m². Adjacent sections in a garment of the invention,for example, the buttock overlay portions or other sections of thegarment can have a lower compression level, for example, below 15 mmHgof pressure, with a lower fabric weight, for example, less than about150 grams/m² or between about 30 to 150 grams/m². In general, thebuttock overlay sections can be formed with fabric having a first levelof compression, while the buttock support bands can be formed withfabric having a second level of compression, the first level ofcompression being lower than the second level of compression therebyenabling the garment to provide lift and/or support to enhance thebuttocks.

In some embodiments, the buttock support bands can include a tubularpocket for insertion of padding material or a flexible wire to provideadditional support and lift to the buttocks. An example of a wire thatcan be used to support and/or provide lift to the buttocks is a flexiblewire similar to those used in underwire bras. The underwire insert canbe a galvanized flat wire or rust resistant steel with plastic coateddip tips, and can be washable.

Materials & Fabric Content

A garment of the invention is constructed of materials having regions oftighter or softer stretch, regions of lighter or heavier fabric, regionsof varying compression levels or regions of different thicknesses so asto provide for (1) a pair of buttock overlay portions that reveal or addto the natural curve of the wearer; and (2) a pair of buttock supportband that support and/or lifts the buttocks of the wearer. A garment ofthe invention can be in the form of an undergarment worn beneath surfaceclothing, an integrated garment in which a form fitting, buttockenhancing liner portion with buttock overlay portions and buttocksupport bands is attached underneath a garment typically worn overundergarments, or a stand alone garment in which the buttock overlayportions and buttock support bands are integral to the visible garment,i.e. integrally formed with the garment.

Materials or fabrics that can be used to construct a garment of theinvention include, without limitation: spandex, elastane yarns, lycra,cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, viscose, Dry Fit polyester, bamboo,supplex, tactel, organic cotton, tencel, polyamide, Power Net, PowerMesh, leg elastic, Revolutional Slim (anti-cellulite fabric), or anycombination thereof. A garment of the invention can be produced fromfabric having the forgoing material at about the following percentages:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45,46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63,64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81,82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99,and 100. A garment of the invention can be produced from fabric havingspandex, elastane, Italian lycra, spandura, equestrian lycra, wickinglycra, cotton lycra, supplex lycra, super stretch spandex, Poly Net,Poly Mesh, and leg elastic at about the following percentages, forexample: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 3233, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, 39, and 40.

In general, the materials discussed herein can be used in percentagesranging from 1% to 100% for both the lining and the garment.

Specific embodiments of the invention are described in the followingexamples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in theclaims.

EXAMPLES

An embodiment of a garment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1,which provides a view of garment 10. Garment 10 includes a pair ofbuttock-overlay portions 12 sized and positioned to cover the wearer'sbuttocks. Buttock-overlay portion 12 is constructed of a light stretchmesh material, which can be, for example, 84% Nylon/16% Spandex, 80%Nylon/20% Spandex, 74% Nylon/26% Spandex, or 72% Nylon/28% Spandex, tominimize compressing the natural shape of the wearer's buttocks. Garment10 also includes a pair of buttock-support band 14, each adjoining thelower portion of buttock-overlay portion 12. The buttock-support bandsare constructed of a tighter and/or heavier material that providesgreater compression to the area beneath the buttocks than that providedby the buttock-overlay portions to the buttocks thereby supportingand/or adding lift to the buttocks. Portions of garment 10 adjoining thebuttock-overlay portions 12 and/or buttock-support bands 14 can becomposed of any material including materials similarly to or the same asmaterials forming the buttock-support bands 14. Buttock-overlay portions12 and buttock-support bands 14 are secured one to the other and/or toadjoining portions of the garment through stitching, for example, a flatlock stitch.

A similar embodiment of a garment of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, which provides a front and a rear view of garment 10B.Garment 10B includes tummy-control band 14F disposed on front of garment10B, buttock-overlay portions 22 and buttock-support bands 24 disposedon rear. Garment 10B is constructed of a knit material, which can be,for example, a compression performance power mesh made of 74% Nylon/26%Spandex, 84% Nylon/16% Spandex, 80% Nylon/20% Spandex, in which thebuttock-support bands are constructed of a tighter knit material thanthe buttock-overlay portion 22 or other adjacent or adjoining portionsof the garment. Portions of garment 10B having different compressionlevels can be attached through stitching or formed by gradient stitchingmethods known to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate another similar embodiment of the invention.Garment 20 is constructed from one piece of knit material, with a singleseam in the inner leg and crotch area. The knit material is manipulatedby specialty knitting machines to alter the stretch or compression levelof the garment material as known in the art thereby resulting in regionsof softer or lighter stretch and regions of heavier or tighter stretch.Garment 20 includes tummy-control band 24F on its front, which is aregion of tighter stretch relative to the stretch in adjacent portionsof garment 20 thereby providing a greater level of support where neededand less compression in other areas so as to enhance the wearer's curve.The rear of garment 20 includes buttock-overlay portions 22, which is aregion of softer, lighter, or lower compression knit that allow thewearer's curves to come through. The rear of garment 20 also includesbuttock-support band 25B, which optionally, can be constructed with apocket for inserting an underwire or additional padding materials toprovide additional support or lift to the buttocks. Garment 20 can beconstructed in a short length with leg openings represented by dash line28S, or in a longer length with leg openings represented by dash line28R. Garment 20 can be constructed with a low waist represented by dashline 26L, a mid-rise waist represented by dash line 26M, or with a highwaist represented by dash line 2611.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which thebuttock-overlay portion includes an buttock-enhancing insert. Garment 40is constructed using several layers of mesh material. Garment 40includes outer mesh layer 40F in the front and outer mesh layer 40B inthe rear as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Garment 40 includes tummy panel44F on its front underneath outer mesh layer 40F to support the wearer'stummy. Panel 44F extends downwardly to the crotch area and laterally tothe rear forming pocket flaps 44B. Panel 44F and pocket flaps 44B areconstructed of a material such as 83% Polyester/17% Elastane, 82%Polyester/18% Elastane or 74% Polyester/26% Elastane, which provideslight and comfortable control, as well as a smooth appearance.

A second layer of mesh material (not shown) is disposed underneath rearouter mesh layer 40B. A pocket is stitched to form buttock overlaypocket 42 for holding a buttock-enhancing insert, for example, silicongel 43. Garment 40 can be constructed in a short length with legopenings represented by dash line 48S, or in a longer length with legopenings represented by dash line 48R. Garment 40 can be constructedwith a low waist represented by dash line 46L, a mid-rise waistrepresented by dash line 46M, or with a high waist represented by dashline 4611.

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of garment 60 as viewed from the innerrear side of garment 60. Garment 60 includes buttock-overlay pocket 62configured to receive a buttock-enhancing insert 63 such as a gel pad,which can be held in place by a bottom seam that form pocket 62. A pairof small openings 67 is formed at the seams joining buttock-overlaypocket 62 to bottom of waistband 66 to allow a gel pad or other paddingmaterial 63 to be inserted. Garment 60 can be utilized as a linerunderneath another garment, garment 60 being secured along its side andcenter back seam to the other garment to form an integrated linedgarment. The side seam can be a side design stitch, which can be anyvariation f straight, angle or curved stitch. The bottom of the liningalso can be secured to the other garment using a design stitching. Thefront and back waistband of the integrated garment can have an extralining to add firmness and stretch to control the tummy area.

FIGS. 6A-6C provide fabric components that can be used to construct agarment of the invention integrated as a liner for a legging. FIG. 6Aillustrates the shape of buttock-overlay piece 600P. FIG. 6B illustratesthe piece of material forming the front 600F and rear 600B of the pelvicportion of the liner. FIG. 6C illustrate the pieces of material formingthe front and rear pelvic portions 700F and 700B, respectively, of oneside of a legging, in particular, legging 700, as well as the pieces ofmaterial forming the mid-leg portion 700M and lower leg portion 700L ofone side of legging 700.

Buttock-overlay piece 600P (FIG. 6A) is stitched to front and backpelvic piece 600F/600B (FIG. 6B) by joining edges 624 p and 626 p ofpiece 600P with edges 614 p and 616P of front and back pelvic piece600F/600B to form lining portion of the integrated garment.

Legging front and rear pelvic pieces 700F and 700B are joined one to theother at edges 712 f and 712 b. Front and rear pelvic pieces 700F and700B are joined to mid-leg pieces 700M by stitching edges 713 f and 7141to edge 715 of mid-leg piece 700M. Mid-leg piece 700M is stitched tolower leg piece 700L through joining edges 717 and 719. The resultingsubassembly forms one side of a legging, and two such subassemblies canbe attached to form legging 700. More specifically, edge 706 c of afirst subassembly can be attached to edge 706 c of a second subassemblythereby forming the central front seam. Edge 708 c of the firstsubassembly can be attached to edge 708 c of the second subassemblythereby forming the central rear seam. Each leg is formed throughattaching edges 710 f, 710 m, and 710 l of a subassembly to edges 714 b,714 m and 714 l, respectively, of the same subassembly.

The lining portion and legging portion of the integrated garment can beattached one to the other at any convenient location including forexample, through their waist openings formed by edges 602 w, 603 w, 702w and 704 w.

FIGS. 7A-7C provide fabric components that can be used to construct agarment of the invention integrated as a liner for a legging, the linerhaving a buttock-overlay pocket for a buttock enhancing insert. FIG. 7Aillustrates the shape of buttock-overlay piece 800P. FIG. 7B illustratesthe piece of material forming the front 800F and rear 800B of the pelvicportion of the liner. FIG. 6C illustrate the pieces of material formingthe front and rear pelvic portions 900F and 900B, respectively, of oneside of a legging, in particular, legging 900, as well as the pieces ofmaterial forming the mid-leg portion 900M and lower leg portion 900L ofone side of legging 900.

Buttock-overlay piece 800P (FIG. 7A), forming a pocket for holding abuttock-enhancing insert, is stitched to front and back pelvic piece800F/800B (FIG. 7B) by joining their curved edges to form a liningportion of the integrated garment.

Legging front and rear pelvic pieces 900F and 900B are joined one to theother at edges 912 f and 912 b. Front and rear pelvic pieces 900F and900B are joined to mid-leg pieces 900M by stitching edges 913 f and 9141to edge 915 of mid-leg piece 900M. Mid-leg piece 900M is stitched tolower leg piece 900L through joining edges 917 and 919. The resultingsubassembly forms one side of a legging, and two such subassemblies canbe attached to form legging 900. More specifically, edge 906 c of afirst subassembly can be attached to edge 906 c of a second subassemblythereby forming the central front seam. Edge 908 c of the firstsubassembly can be attached to edge 908 c of the second subassemblythereby forming the central rear seam. Each leg is formed throughattaching edges 910 f, 910 m, and 910 l of a subassembly to edges 914 b,914 m and 914 l, respectively, of the same subassembly.

The lining portion and legging portion of the integrated garment can beattached one to the other at any convenient location including forexample, through their waist openings formed by edges 902 w, 903 w, 802w and 804 w.

Additional examples of integrated garments of the invention areillustrated the following FIGS. 8A-8C, 9A-9C, 10A-10C, 11A-11C, 12A-12C,and 13A-13C. For example, a garment of the invention withbuttock-enhancing pad is utilized as a liner underneath mid-rise waistshorts 144 (FIGS. 8A-8C), as a liner for high waist capris 155 (FIGS.9A-9C), and as a liner underneath mid-rise waist boot cut jeans 166(FIGS. 10A-10C). Similarly, a garment of the invention with abuttock-overlay portion and buttock-support band, optionally withunderwire support, is utilized as a liner underneath mid-rise skirt 177(FIGS. 11A-11C), as a liner for mid-rise waist leggings 188 (FIGS.12A-12C), and as a liner underneath high waist ultra-wide flare jeans199 (FIGS. 13A-13C).

Other Embodiments of the Invention

The materials, methods, examples and embodiments described herein areillustrative and not intended to be limiting. Methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practicethe invention. The invention described herein may be practiced in theabsence of any element or limitation that is not specifically disclosedas essential. The methods described herein may be practiced in differingorders of steps. Any combination of elements described herein that doesnot render the invention inoperable as apparent from context, thisspecification and to those skilled in the art is included within thescope of the invention. The invention also has been described broadlyand generically herein. Each narrower species and subgeneric groupingsfalling within the generic disclosure form part of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term“about” in reference to a numeric value means within 10% of thespecified value. A number is “about” a reference value if the number iswithin a range that is + or −10% of the reference value.

What is claimed is:
 1. A form-fitting garment configured to enhance thebuttocks of the wearer, the garment comprising a pair of buttock overlayportions sized and positioned to overlay the buttocks of the wearer, thebuttock overlay portions comprising material having a level ofcompression, fabric weight, thickness, or a combination thereof thatdiffers from that of material in adjoining portions of the garment. 2.The garment of claim 1, wherein the buttock overlay portions arestitched to adjoining portions of the garment.
 3. The garment of claim1, wherein the buttock overlay portions are attached to adjoiningportions of the garment using a flat lock stitch.
 4. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the level of compression, fabric weight, or both levelof compression and fabric weight of the buttock overlay portions arelower than that of adjoining portions of the garment.
 5. The garment ofclaim 4, wherein the buttock overlay portions comprises a stretch meshfabric.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein each of the buttock overlayportions comprises a pocket within which padding material is disposedthereby adding thickness to the buttock overlay portion relative to thatof adjacent portions of the garment.
 7. The garment of claim 6, whereinthe padding material is a removable insert.
 8. The garment of claim 6,wherein the padding material comprises batting.
 9. The garment of claim6, wherein the padding material comprises silicon gel, polyurethane foamrubber, or a combination thereof.
 10. The garment of claim 1, furthercomprising a pair of buttock support bands disposed beneath the buttockoverlay portions of the garment, the buttock support bands being sizedand positioned to overlay a portion of a wearer's body beneath eachbuttock so as to apply compression to the portion of the wearer's bodybeneath each buttock, the buttock support bands comprising materialshaving a higher level of compression and/or fabric weight than that ofthe buttock overlay portions, the buttock support bands applying greatercompression to the portion of the wearer's body beneath each buttockthan that applied by the buttock overlay portions to the wearer'sbuttocks.
 11. The garment of claim 10, wherein each of the buttocksupport bands comprises a tubular pocket within which a flexible wire isinserted to form an underwire supporting each buttock.
 12. The garmentof claim 10, wherein each of the buttock support bands comprisesmaterial having a compression level of at least about 15 mmHg and/or afabric weight at least between about 150 to about 250 grams/meter². 13.The garment of claim 12, wherein each of the buttock overlay portionscomprises material having a compression level less than about 15 mmHgand/or a fabric weight less than about 150 grams/meter².
 14. The garmentof claim 1, which comprises a first material forming the buttock overlayportions and a second material forming the adjoining portions of thegarment to which the buttock overlay portions are stitched, the firstmaterial comprising a lower level of compression and/or a lower fabricweight than that of the second material, the second material forming theremaining portion of the garment.
 15. The garment of claim 14, whereinthe first material comprises a light compression level of less thanabout 15 mmHg and/or a fabric weight less than about 150 grams/meter²,and the second material comprises a mild compression level of at leastabout 15 mmHg and/or a fabric weight at least about 150 to about 250grams/meter².
 16. The garment of claim 14, which comprises a singlelayer of fabric.
 17. The garment of claim 1, which comprises spandex,super stretch spandex, elastane, lycra, equestrian lycra, wicking lycra,cotton lycra, supplex lycra, polyester, dry fit polyester, nylon,cotton, organic cotton, wool, rayon, viscose, bamboo, supplex, tactel,tencel, polyamide, power net, poly net, power mesh, poly mesh, legelastic, spandura, or a combination thereof.
 18. An integrated garmentcomprising a visible portion under which the garment of claim 1 isattached so as to form a buttock enhancing liner for the visible portionof the garment.
 19. The integrated garment of claim 18, wherein thevisible portion and liner are attached at their waist openings, frontcentral seam, rear central seem, a side seam, a seam at the leg opening,or any combination thereof.
 20. The integrated garment of claim 18,wherein the visible portion is a pair of trousers, a pair of denimjeans, a pair of shorts, a pair of full length leggings, a pair of caprilength leggings, a pair of ankle length leggings, a pair of tights, abikini bottom, a one piece swimsuit, a skirt, a tennis skirt, a golfskirt, a pair of maternity trousers, a pair of maternity denim jeans, apair of maternity shorts, a pair of full length maternity leggings, apair of capri length maternity leggings, a pair of ankle lengthmaternity leggings, a pair of maternity tights, a maternity bikinibottom, a maternity one piece swimsuit, a maternity skirt, a maternitygolf skirt, or a maternity tennis skirt.